Good things remain the same for Boise vs Dawgs

The "staying the same" should translate to more winning, and that is good news for Boise St. fans and alums. Returning for the Broncos is quarterback Kellen Moore. Moore's 2010 stats were impressive. He had 35 touchdowns and only six interceptions, as he completed nearly 72 percent of his passes—the main reason he was a Heisman finalist. Titus Young and Austin Pettis may have taken their talents to the NFL, but running back Doug Martin is back and he should match the 1,260 rushing yards he totaled in 2010. Boise St. has always been able to put points on the board, but the defense was just as impressive in 2010. Playing an SEC contender like the University of Georgia will test any team, and Boise St. coach Chris Petersen hopes the eight starters returning on defense will be up to the challenge. Georgia thrashed Boise St. back in 2005, as D.J. Shockley torched the Broncos for five touchdown passes, but in an ironic twist, it's Georgia tha feels it has something to prove this time around.

"Boise State, is a big deal for us. The winningest college football team in America over the last 10 seasons, a team that, as you watch their film, you realize that they are a special football team," said Georgia coach Mark Richt .

Like last year, Boise State feels it must play a game like this each year to not only earn respect, but get a large paycheck.

"It's part that, it's a financial thing, playing a game like that because we need the money," Petersen said. "Part of it is that it's good for our program as well." In other words, Boise St. is really pointing to this game.

This game not only looks like it is good for both nationally respected football programs, but it should be good for fans that enjoy an important early season matchup with national championship ramifactions.

Rick Limpert

Vols' Austin Johnson sorry for 'embarrassment' of arrest

Austin Johnson called the 24 hours after his July arrest “something like a dream.”

The way the senior Tennessee linebacker described it after Tuesday’s practice, it safely could be classified as a nightmare for one of the Vols’ most respected leaders.

“I was sick to my stomach,” Johnson said in his first interview since the July 24 incident. “I was so embarrassed, I couldn't sleep at night, I couldn't eat.

“It wasn't the best time of my life and I let my family down … I let everyone down.”

Johnson was booked for public intoxication and disorderly conduct after an altercation with an unidentified male in the back parking lot of Tin Roof at 1915 Cumberland Ave. Johnson was also seen hitting vehicles, according to the police report.

Johnson, 22, said he wouldn’t discuss the details of the police report, but added that “some of the stuff that was said is not necessarily what I was doing.”

Gamecock's Mangus docked a month’s pay and more

South Carolina officially announced earlier Tuesday that quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus will be, as expected, fully reinstated to the football program Aug. 3 following an off-field incident last week. While he will be suspended for just one week, it will prove to be a suspension that is costly.
the school revealed that Mangus will be docked an amount equaling one month of his annual salary. Additionally, the release states, the assistant will be ineligible for compensation increases or bonuses for a period of one year. While the release doesn’t specify a dollar amount, the total hit could easily approach, or exceed depending on how successful the Gamecocks are this season, the $50,000 mark.
“We insist that those in the athletics department who work with our student-athletes on a daily basis are held to a higher standard of conduct,” said athletic director Eric Hyman in a statement. “G.A.’s lack of judgment did not reflect the character and integrity that we expect from our coaches.”

Georgia's fate lies with, which huge game, Boise State or South Carolina

After the first two games, the Bulldogs have the easiest schedule in the entire SEC, and it's not even close. Many figure that South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia are all talented enough to win the wide-open SEC Eastern Division. Although their talent levels may be similar, Florida and Tennessee have much tougher schedules. The Volunteers have to play at Alabama, LSU, and at Arkansas. The Gators have to play Alabama, at LSU, and at Auburn, in back-to-back-to-back weeks. Both South Carolina and Georgia miss out on the two best teams in the Nation, LSU and Alabama. However, the Gamecocks do have to travel to play at Arkansas and at Mississippi State.

That's why the second week game between Georgia and South Carolina will decide the SEC East. Then if Florida or Tennessee were in the shoes of Georgia, then the same would be said about them as well.

The Bulldogs catch a break, not having to play the three best teams in the SEC, and while the season opener against Boise State will mean a lot nationally, the game against South Carolina will decide the Bulldogs' overall fate for the 2011 season.

Gamecocks fully reinstate QB Stephen Garcia

Head coach Steve Spurrier confirmed to the Associated Press what he hinted at least week, that Garcia has been fully reinstated to the football program. Garcia had been suspended, his fifth suspension since joining the Gamecocks four years ago, since April following an alcohol-fueled incident at a university function.

He was partially reinstated in late May, and reports surfaced recently that one of the conditions of a return for Garcia was the quarterback successfully completing an outpatient alcohol treatment program. Apparently after completing that as well as complying with the other conditions set forth by the school, he’s back in the good graces of both his university and his coach.

“We think he’s going to do what’s right,” Spurrier said in a phone conversation with the AP. “Sometimes, it takes some guys a little longer, I guess.”

The Gamecocks will open summer camp Wednesday with Garcia, as well as quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus.

LSU sets season ticket sales record

LSU has sold out of season football tickets for the eighth-straight year and in the process set a new record for season ticket sales, assistant AD for ticket operations Brian Broussard announced on Monday.

LSU sold 68,772 season tickets for the 2011 home slate, bettering the school-record of 68,650 sold for the past three years. The capacity of Tiger Stadium recently increased to 92,542 due to the addition of some club level seats.

LSU has sold out of season tickets every year dating back to the 2004 season when 66,232 season tickets were sold the year following the Tigers' 2003 BCS National Championship. LSU sold 68,230 season tickets in 2007, 67,700 in 2006, and 66,300 in 2005.

"The demand for LSU football season tickets is stronger than ever," Broussard said. "The requests for LSU season tickets continue to be higher than the number of tickets that we have to offer. However, we will continue to try to find ways to help those fans who couldn't get season tickets with mini-plans or individual game tickets."

Vols expecting much better running game

"We definitely need the running game to win games," senior tailback Tauren Poole said. "We can't rely only on Tyler's little bitty arm to throw the ball every single play, even though he's talented enough. We're going to need to run the football." Last year the Vols were the SEC's worst rushing team. They averaged less than 2 yards per attempt in eight league games. Though the 5-foot-10, 215-pound Poole was one of just six players in the league to break the 1,000-yard mark and had solid games against Oregon (162 yards), LSU (109) and Alabama (117), he had his struggles. He rushed for a combined 96 yards in losses to Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina. "Tauren is everything that you want in a player from his drive to be his best," UT coach Derek Dooley said. "I wish we had 100 Tauren Pooles,because of his commitment to the program and how he represents Tennessee. "He's got good size and speed for his position. He was inconsistent last year, [but] he was productive as a whole. He had some games where he was remarkable. He had other games where it was hard on him. I think a lot of things go into that. It was his first year playing. He wants to do well so bad; he wants to perform so well. It took him a while to get settled into the position."

Mississippi State has proven back in Ballard

"I was never highly recruited," Ballard said. "I've always used that as a chip on my shoulder and a reason to work that much harder. I didn't ask any questions. I just know that they didn't want me." The 5-foot-11, 220-pound senior rushed for 968 yards and a school-record 19 touchdowns last year for the Bulldogs, who erupted in Dan Mullen's second season to finish 9-4 and No. 15 nationally. Mississippi State defeated Georgia for the first time since 1974, beat Florida in Gainesville for the first time since 1965 and capped its banner year with a 52-14 throttling of Michigan in the Gator Bowl. If not for a leg injury during a 98-yard performance at Florida that forced him to sit out the following week against UAB, Ballard likely would have rambled past the 1,000-yard milestone as an SEC rookie.

"He wants to go out there and prove everybody wrong -- that he should have been recruited out of high school and that he should have been more heavily recruited out of junior college," Mullen said. "You could see on day one when he walked on our campus that he had that 'it' factor about him.

"He's not the fastest player out there. He doesn't have the most dynamic moves. He's not a monster big back. He's just a great football player."

Former 'Bama DB heading north to play

Former University of Alabama defensive back Robby Green will transfer to California University of Pennsylvania to play his final season of college football, but told tidesports.com he plans to return to the Capstone next spring to complete his degree. After missing all of the 2010 season on an NCAA suspension and 2011 spring drills on a team suspension, Green was dismissed from the UA program earlier this summer.
"I needed a fresh start in a new place. I needed to get out of one element and into another one," Green told tidesports.com. "I'll get to go up North, meet some new people and try to make my dream of playing at the next level happen."
Green has not played in a game since Alabama's BCS National Championship Game win over Texas more than 18 months ago. He made 33 tackles as a sophomore for the 2009 Crimson Tide, but lost a season of eligibility while on suspension last year. Green said among his criteria for choosing a school was finding one at which he could transfer credits back to Alabama.
"My plan the whole time has been to still graduate from Alabama," Green said. "I want to come back and finish at Alabama next spring and get my degree from there."

Green said the Vulcans will switch him from safety, his position at Alabama, to cornerback.

Kansas adds former Arkansas receiver

According to JayhawkSlant.com, wide receiverNeal Barlow has decided to both resume his football career and do the resumption with the Jayhawks.

Barlow had flipped his August 2008 KU verbal into a signed Letter of Intent with Arkansas in February of the following year. After suffering a foot injury during his freshman football season with the Razorbacks, the 6-7 Barlow not only opted to transfer from the school but to switch sports as well, moving on to Arkansas Little-Rock to play basketball during the 2010-2011 season.

After hoops season ended, Barlow told the website, “I missed football and I wanted to get back in it. I got that hunger back.” “I know KU is the place I want to be,” he said. “When I first committed to Kansas I knew there was a reason for it. I know I have something to prove.”

Defense is a concern for Tennessee

“Defense is a little bit like offense was a year ago,” Dooley said at Southeastern Conference media days last week. “In this league, as we all know, if you don’t have a good front seven, a productive front seven, you’re going to have a tough time week in and week out.”

Malik Jackson is the lone proven player back on the Vols defensive line, a group that’s depending on significant contributions from junior-college transfer Maurice Couch and converted offensive lineman Daniel Hood at tackle and a handful of unproven commodities at end. Hood needed barely half a spring practice to stake his spot in the rotation, and Couch comes in with plenty of hype. Ends Jacques Smith, Willie Bohannon and Marlon Walls have played before, but now their roles are expanded.

Regardless of the who, the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Jackson, the Southern Cal transfer who flourished after a midseason switch from end to tackle last year, knows the what: he and the Vols really need a player or two to step up and provide some help.

“I need that a lot,” Jackson said. “I’m trying to get these young guys to understand that I can’t be the only one out there making plays, and I won’t be. I’m trying to get these other guys to step up and be playmakers too so it makes it a little bit easier on me.

“If you don’t have a strong defensive line, you’re going to be back with the safeties on run plays, and that’s not good for anybody.”

Ex- Tide player Keiwone Malone reportedly moving to Memphis

According to a series of tweets from Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Malone has decided to leave Tuscaloosa and continue his collegiate football career at Memphis. Geographically the move makes sense for Malone as he attended high school in the city of Memphis.

TideSports.com subsequently confirmed the initial report through the receiver’s high school coach.

“I think it’s a good situation for him, getting back home,” Memphis Mitchell High School coach Nathan Cole told the News. “Back where his mom can stay in closer touch with him.”

UA has yet to confirm Malone has actually left the program.

Malone was a redshirt as a true freshman last year, but some thought, before his “issues” he could contribute to some degree in his second year at the school.

As a four-star member of the Tide’s 2010 recruiting class, Malone was rated as the No. 32 wide receiver in the country as well as the No. 3 player at any position in the state of Tennessee.

Gamecocks...Garcia, Mangus expected to be reinstated next week

Quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus remains on an indefinite suspension following his arrest Tuesday morning for urinating in public in Greenville. Spurrier said he does expect the 42-year-old, in his third year on staff, to return. He hinted it could even happen by the time camp opens Wednesday. "I think G.A. is very remorseful," Spurrier said. "He knows that if he has one more incident such as this, his coaching career could be over." Spurrier also said quarterback Stephen Garcia's full reinstatement could come Monday. The fifth-year senior was suspended in April for an alcohol-induced outburst at a life skills seminar. Since then, Garcia has complied with a list of requirements from Spurrier and the university. He was partially reinstated in June so that he could work out with his teammates. "Stephen Garcia has changed his lifestyle almost completely," Spurrier said. "He's been on time, no goofing around. He's being very serious. He's showing a commitment we've never seen before.

"Now, hopefully that will continue. I expect it to continue." Spurrier said the difference for Garcia in his final year will be whether he has a handle on the mental part of the game.

"He just needs to get his focus really, really sharp," Spurrier said. "If he does that, I really believe he can have an outstanding year -- and I mean outstanding."

by Travis Haney

Vandy's Franklin marches forward with message

In the past week, Franklin attended an alumni meeting in Birmingham followed by SEC Media Day. He went with his entire staff to a social event at Ruth's Chris. He made it a point to greet enthusiastic supporters before a special tour of the renovated locker room. Throw in a trip to ESPN's campus, a speech to the Columbia Kiwanis Club, and a guest appearance at 104.5's roast of Clay Travis, and Franklin has been promoting the Commodores around the clock.
The point is Franklin won't be satisfied until everyone hears his message. He'll keep pushing until there's nothing left to push.
On the trip to SEC Media Day, quarterback Larry Smith described his coach as "high-octane." Strike up a conversation with Franklin and his enthusiasm will be contagious. He's relentless in everything he does, whether it's on the recruiting trail or trying to convert people to wear black and gold. Even if it's one person at a time.


And he won't take 'no' for an answer.
One of Franklin's stops this morning was to thank Vanderbilt's fan forum, which formed last January shortly after he was hired. The group, consisting of 13 people, reviewed feedback from a fan survey and was then given the task of offering ways to enhance the gameday experience.
His message to them was simple: help spread the word to neighbors, to alumni and to the rest of the community. Be part of the solution.
It's also okay to sweat the small stuff, like the color of the cups provided for refreshments during the forum.

"Where did you guys get those cups?" Franklin joked to the group. "I don't know why they're purple. Everything around here is black and gold. We're going to have to spray paint them."
by Brandon Barca

LSU's Les Miles confident Russell Shepard will play in opening game against Oregon

According to the Shreveport Times, the NCAA is particularly interested in Shepard’s off-campus living arrangements. The interest caused Shepard to be absent during SEC Media Days last week. “I don’t really know exactly what’s going on there,” Miles said. “It’s really out of my hands.” Although, with preseason camp set to start next week, and a season-opening game against Oregon kicking off on Sept. 3, Miles expects Shepard to be present.

“There have been communications that would make it appear that it’s not very, very serious,” Miles said on Wednesday. “Oh, he’s fine. No, he won’t have to sit out. He’ll come to practice. We wouldn’t expect there to be any issues there.”

Whether the NCAA agrees with that assessment is still up in the air. Previous reports from Randy Rosetta of TigerSportsDigest.com indicate that Shepard may have been taking advantage of an off-campus housing situation for some time.

Bama's Darius Hanks to sit two games

Darius Hanks will sit the first two games of 2011 to regain a season of eligibility, an Alabama spokesman has confirmed.

Hanks will miss the home opener against Kent State on Sept. 3, and Alabama's visit to Penn State on Sept. 10.

Hanks (6-0, 185 pounds) is listed as a redshirt senior in the 2011 media guide. He played one game in 2007 when he caught one pass for 6 yards in a 52-6 win against Western Carolina.

NCAA bylaw 14.2.6, also known as a season-of-competition waiver. It states the following:

"A student-athlete may be granted an additional season of competition by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement in a case in which the student-athlete participated in a limited amount of competition while eligible due to a coach's documented misunderstanding of the legislation or other extenuating circumstances. In cases in which a student-athlete does not meet the criteria of this waiver, the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement shall have authority to review and grant a waiver based on additional documented extenuating circumstances."

In 36 games, Hanks has caught 58 passes for 822 yards and six touchdowns.

Injury rumors surface about Tide’s Eddie Lacy

This in, Eddie Lacy suffered some type of pectoral injury during a weightlifting session recently. The rumored range of severity is varied, going from Lacy being sidelined for 2-4 weeks to being evaluated after four weeks to missing the entire season.

IF Lacy is indeed injured and he misses significant playing time, it would leave the Tide with just Richardson and Jalston Fowler (14 carries for 11 yards as a true freshman last season) as the only players with any collegiate experience at the position. Brent Calloway, a four-star member of the Tide’s 2011 recruiting class, was the No. 5 outside linebacker in the country but also played running back in high school, so he could be an option at the position as well. Provided he qualifies academically, of course.

Georgia linebacker to undergo surgery

Georgia is hoping to submit their internal report on linebacker Jarvis Jones as early as tomorrow, and could know as soon as next week whether the transfer from USC will be available to play at all this season.

In the meantime, though, the Bulldogs’ linebacker unit has taken a more definitive hit to its depth chart.

Thanks to a press release from the university, reserve inside linebacker Brandon Burrows will undergo right shoulder surgery for chronic instability and is expected to miss the entire 2011 season.

Burrows was a three-star prospect out of out of Marietta, Georgia, who signed with the Bulldogs in 2010 and redshirted last season.